Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Andrew Doyle. My focus is on getting an update. We know from A Programme for a Partnership Government that there are clear objectives to take on board the Bord Bia strategy for the period 2016 to 2018, Making a World of a Difference. I salute Bord Bia for its marketing and also its commitment to the horticulture and food sector. The Making a World of a Difference campaign clearly sets out its strategy for the period 2016 to 2018. The Government has accepted it in its entirety and made provision for it in the programme for government.

I ask the Minister of State to update us on progress in maximising the range and volume of products on retail shelves that carry the Bord Bia quality mark, in line with one of the key objectives of the policy. There are many key objectives in Making a World of a Difference, of which this is one. Perhaps the Minister might come into the House at some point in the future to talk specifically about the strategy and how it is being progressed. It is very positive and I do not doubt the Minister's commitment to it, but it would be interesting to hear how it is being progressed, particularly in the context of the agrifood enterprise, the Origin Green label, and generally in maximising the range of horticultural and agricultural produce.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I know from his background that this is an area in which he not only has a keen interest but on which he is very knowledgeable. He is correct that Making a World of a Difference, the Bord Bia strategy for the period 2016 to 2018, includes among its targets maximising the range and volume of products on retail shelves that carry the Bord Bia quality mark. This is particularly important for the horticulture sector in which the Bord Bia quality assurance scheme provides producers with an opportunity to showcase the quality and traceability of their horticultural products. It also gives retailers an independently accredited quality assurance standard.

That is a brief overview. If the Senator requires further clarification, I will be happy to try and answer.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. The Bord Bia quality mark is very powerful. Auditing needs to be constant. In that context, I note that Bord Bia is to increase the number of audits. It is particularly welcome that the results will be published and placed in the public domain. It is about ensuring confidence in a really strong product and there will be knock-on effects in having a good, strong and quality brand.

I know that the Minister of State has a busy schedule, but horticulture, forestry and food are his specific areas of responsibility. Sometimes they are lost in the bigger agricultural sphere. It would be no harm if from time to time the Minister of State updated the House on progress because they are really important and unique parts of the bigger brand of agriculture.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I will add a couple of points. I recently opened the small business forum, particularly for the horticulture sector. as there are a couple of problems that we face. Retailers have tended to want their own quality brand for their own product as distinct from having a universal brand across products. The test will be whether the Bord Bia quality assurance mark transcends all products such that the consumer can see an independent accreditation and quality mark. I have been trying to emphasise the importance of indigenous Irish produce. A vox pop was carried out on the scarcity of vegetables normally available at this time of the year from southern European states. Some of the comments made included that we had to concentrate on seasonality and that when vegetables were in season, we should buy Irish and local. Irish produce means Irish jobs, nowhere more so than in the horticulture sector which is one of the more labour intensive in the agriculture industry.